Brittany Floyd

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“A passionately multifaced, strategic, bold, intuitive, yet quirky Midwesterner with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.”

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

Fun Fact About Yourself: I studied classical voice for 9 years and had the opportunity to perform in a Roman Ampitheatre in Verona, Italy.

Undergraduate School and Major: Eastern Michigan University; International Affairs // University of Derby; Academic Year Exchange Program

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Serial Entrepreneur and Flight Attendant; American Airlines

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I’ve had the courage, grit, and dynamism to self-fund 4 travel related start-up companies.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? They are compassionate, intelligent, and the type to roll up their sleeves and get things done. On every team I’ve worked on, there has been a synergy and understanding that helps push our projects and initiatives forward.

Rochester Simon is known for being “unabashedly analytical.” Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How do you intend to leverage this approach as a student and professional? I noticed that having an analytical mindset, and the foundation of a rigorous STEM MBA, would give me the edge I need to be a successful marketer; all future marketing leaders will need to be innovative, agile, and quantitatively adept.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The STEM-designation! My background is mostly non-traditional and qualitative, so I knew it would make me a more well-rounded and valuable candidate for future roles.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I have been selected as a Junior Analyst for the Simon School Venture Fund, an Early-Stage student-led VC, where I’ve been able to marry my entrepreneurial, marketing, and leadership experience.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Honestly, the most challenging question for me was what company I wanted to work for post-MBA. I’m interested in starting my career in the CPG industry, but there is so much work to be done in the area of Corporate Responsibility and DEI; it’s especially challenging as a Black woman who cares about sustainability, innovation, and possesses a demonstrated track record of career advancement for people who look and think like me, to find a company that fit all my criteria.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I believe in continuous learning, and getting an MBA seemed like a natural fit. However, COVID-19 accelerated my application process. I was working in the Tourism & Hospitality industry, which has been completely devastated by the pandemic, so it felt like the perfect time to pivot and upskill.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? USC Marshall, and I was in the process of applying to Michigan Ross, but I got an early acceptance to Simon and decided to take the leap.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The major factors for determining the right fit for me came down to the school being a member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, school culture, alumni network, and reputation for developing globally minded and analytical leaders of the future.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I studied abroad for a year in England, where I traveled to 9 countries in Europe and North Africa. I came back home with a deeper sense of altruism with a capacity for creativity, pushing the boundaries of my life, and the passion for exploring – which eventually led me to become a social entrepreneur in the travel industry.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? My goal is to use my foundation in marketing and strategy, to work in sustainable global business development and innovation, in emerging nations –preferably in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

DON’T MISS: MEET ROCHESTER SIMON’S MBA CLASS OF 2022